“The Illusionists”

[rating=5] My rating system cannot express the rating that my grandson, Adam, gave the newest show to hit Chicago’s Broadway in Chicago’s Cadillac palace Theatre, “The Illusionists, Witness The Impossible”. He says the word to describe the show is AWESOME! I have to agree! This is not a play, but instead a spectacular, Vegas style show that brings seven of the most amazing magicians to one stage for two and a half hours of sheer magic (and in this case, I do mean “magic”).

This show has toured the world and is only in town for a short time (thru March 22nd), so if you believe in magic and enjoy being kept on the edge of your seat as well as laughing hysterically, you need to watch these amazing men do their thing. The show is one that uses the audience from time to time and each of the acts ends with a thrilling piece that will leave you spellbound.

Adam has participated in my reviews, with the young person’s perspective for many years, and when I asked him about his views of this particular production, he told me that the sheer comedy of Jeff Hobson, The Trickster, along with his magical feats and the amazing Andrew Basso, doing his take on Houdini’s Water torture trick, without a covering were high on his list. He also was very in awe when watching Kevin James cut a man in half with a power saw, and then dance off the stage with him to end that act.

Adam watched closely as he is into magic, himself. From time to time as a trick began, primarily card tricks (his specialty, after all he is only ten) that he knew this one, but then these masters went one step further and he knew that he still had a lot to learn. This is an amazing show with “Illusionists” who are both young and old , but all recognized as the best in the world. From young Yu-Ho-Jin who does card tricks that will astound you to the incredible Dan Sperry (The Anti-Conjuror) who may look strange and act strange, but who is indeed a fab performer.

Aaron Crow does a wonderful archery trick where an audience member gives up a ring, that he places in an apple (not the computer or phone product, but one of nature) and then shoots it off her head with a special arrow that bursts the apple and pulls the ring from within. I must tell you, we were in the very middle of the house, 15 rows from the stage plus, they have a ginormous flat screen projection screen so we can’t miss a thing, I tried to catch them, any of them, and did not even come close- they are master entertainers, all of them in addition to being true “magicians”. The one unmentioned as yet, was the young Adam Trent who began the show by schmoozing with the audience and selecting an audience member to help. Turns out the older gentleman that he chose to do this function, was HIMSELF! From that point forward, both Adam and I knew that we were in for a great evening. Great effects, great tricks, great music, BUT only until the 22nd.

“The Illusionists-Witness the Impossible” performance schedule is as follows:

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.

Sunday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are as little as $16 but go to $90 and are available at all of the Broadway In Chicago Box Offices, by calling the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at 800-775-2000 or online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Also available at all Ticketmaster outlets

The Cadillac Palace Theatre is located at 151 West Randolph Street (at LaSalle Street)

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-up and click at “The Illusionists”